Ok, guys, all the disclaimers apply, that
means all thanks goes to Marvel

For the X-Men, I'm just making the story. And
I do read all the other

Stories and they're great, keep up the good
work. They inspire me!

=

"Perry
is out there somewhere." I frowned.

"I'm
not sure how else we can help. We're trying as hard as we can." Connor frowned.

"My
son's out there." I said.

"It's
crazy that you have a son." Jace said.

"Maybe
if we can find Olivia..."

"Pane,
we've been over this, we have no idea where she is." Connor sighed.

"Maybe
you need inspiration."

All
three of us looked to the door, where Hope stood.

Chapter 107: All of The
Lights

"I
can't believe all the places you've been." I smiled, "It's crazy."

"I've
heard about you." Hope said, "Scott, when he's not being a jerk, talks about
you."

"Warms my heart." I smiled, "Berlin..."

"Yeah, that's where the next light is. And then Alaska."
Hope said, "I need to go home."

"Another mutant?" I asked, "I miss home."

"You
don't go back too often, do you?"

I just
stared at her.

"What?"

"You
look like someone I used to know." I said, "Jean. Not that I expect you to be
Jean or anything, I just...it's uncanny."

"I hear
that...a lot." Hope smiled politely.

"Why'd
you come here?" I asked, "I mean, it's a slice, but..."

"I
needed to meet you. All the stories and stuff mean nothing if I can't envision
you." Hope said, "You were the me before I was even
thought of."

"Hope,
we could never be one another." I said, "You've had a much harder life than I
have. You're a rose growing from the concrete."

"We
should really be going if we're going to make it to Berlin." Hope smiled.

"Have
fun." I smiled.

-

I stood
in my room, wondering how my life had gotten to this point. This was further
than I ever realized I could go. This rabbit hole never quite reached the
ground. No matter how far I fell, I never hit the bottom and I couldn't see the
light anymore. I grabbed the lamp by my bed and smashed it against the wall! I
pushed everything off my desk and walked over and started snatching things off
the wall. I waved my hand and sent my trashcan flying across the room! I sat in
my now disshelved room, trying to snap myself out of
whatever this was. Connor walked into my room and stood at the door, surveying
the destruction.

"He's
gone." I mumbled.

"Would
that be Richard or Perry?" Connor asked, walking to me.

"Pick
one." I frowned, "I can't keep losing people I love."

"We
won't. We're not losing anyone and we're going to find Perry." Connor frowned,
"Look at me, we're not giving up. Ever. If we have to
search for the rest of our lives, we're going to find him."

"What
if we never find him?" I asked, "What if Sinister keeps him and does weird
experiments on him? He's my blood. And I can't even get close to him."

"Scott
sent over a news feed of Olivia." Connor said, "He used traffic cameras to
follow her. She's no genius."

"We
need to find out how much of my DNA he has and where." I said, "We need Raiden to do her disappearing act."

"She's
up for it." Connor said, "We know of a very important headquarters that would
supply all that information."

"Is Sinister there?" I asked

"No."
Connor said, "but we'll find him."

"I
think we need to raid this place now." I said.

Connor
held out his hand and I grabbed it as he pulled me up. We walked back to the
office and joined Raiden, Jace,
and Melissa. Raiden looked as if she were waiting to
say something but kept it to herself. Jace also had
this look, but was never in danger of saying anything. Melissa looked disshelved. Not sexy disshelved,
but she studied me.

"I had
to make sure you were okay." Scott said, "All of you." He added.

"So,
now we're supposed to believe you care about all of us?" Jace
asked.

"This
danger...wouldn't be pale with a red diamond, would it?" I asked.

"Not
particularly. He's working wit..." Before he could
finish, there was a loud bang before everyone was thrown off their feet! I
looked up in time to see hands coming at my head.

"Pane?"
Scott asked.

I
opened my eyes to see Scott looking at me. Behind him was
Professor Xavier, Logan, Ororo, Jean, Bobby, Piotr, Kitty, Alex, Lorna, and Beast. I rubbed my eyes,
trying to remember the last thing I had seen. The hands.
But it didn't...make sense.

"I
can't believe it's you!" Scott said, grappling me.

"What
happened, last thing I remember are hands and it took us off our feet." I said,
very unsure of anything.

They
exchanged puzzled looks.

"What?"
I asked.

"You've
been dead since Apocalypse's temple." Bobby said quickly.

"You're...kidding.
Tell me you're kidding." I said, looking around. My eyes landed on my clothes.
They were the same clothes from the temple. I pulled my hand up to my head and
was shocked to feel an excess of hair. It was frizzy and dry and all over my
head. I pressed my brain, trying to find any explanation for this. There wasn't
any viable explanation for...this.

"You've
been in a sort of stasis." Professor Xavier explained, "Hovering between life
and death."

"I
can't decide if I'm crazy or...I'm crazy." I frowned.

"Professor,
what's wrong with him?" Ororo asked.

"He's
experiencing dementia. His dreams were life-like. He truly began to believe
them." Professor Xavier said to her.

"What?
That...wasn't a dream. This is a dream." I frowned.

"No,
Pane, this is the only thing that is real." Scott frowned, "You have to trust
me."

I
looked at them, still unsure.

"We're
real. You died..."

"And I
never woke up." I frowned, "I was just dreaming. All of that was a dream. It
was all a dream." I said, passing out.

-

I
opened my eyes again and took in the sight of Scott, Jace,
Raiden, Connor and Melissa. I blinked a few times
before the questions could be asked. Melissa ran to get water while Jace, Scott, Connor and Raiden
looked at me, studying me also. Raiden was the first
to ask me was I alright. I nodded and avoided Scott's gaze. I knew he wanted to
ask me several questions all coinciding with am I
alright. Melissa handed me the water and watched as I drunk it. I sat it down
and looked at them.

"I had
him first and I had him best. I'll probably have him after you.I can't go back to that place with him. He's
made that clear, so while you're here gauging my response, you should be more
concerned with why his mind is in turmoil." Scott said angrily, "You win. He
loves you. Great. He can't love me, not when he knows
I'm unavailable."

"But
that's exactly what you're not saying." Jace frowned.

Scott
walked past him, "While you figure out how to get what you want, I'm going to
help him." He said, leaving.

-

I woke
up in the sterile room I'd grown to miss. The Med Bay.
I rolled over to see Scott, sitting by my bed. It was dark but I could make out
his visor. I'd know him from anywhere. And the smell of him, the intoxicating smell. I smiled a little.

"You're
awake." He said, startling me.

"I
didn't know if you were awake." I smiled.

"I'm
glad you're awake. Professor scanned your dream, got a look at the world you've
been living in." Scott said gently
stroking my face, "I'm so sorry. I had no idea. We all thought you were dead."

"I was.
I am. I will be." I said, "It's hard to communicate."

"Hank
says it'll be a while before you're healed. Body and mind."

I
started crying from confusion and fatigue.

"I know
this is all taxing, but I'm here." Scott said.

"You
know how we played out in the other world." I said.

"I do
and that's not going to happen." Scott said, "I don't love Emma. Jean's alive.
Mutants never lost their powers. The Mutant Registration Act never happened.
All the lives lost in the other world
never were lost."

"When I
go to sleep...it's there." I said softly.

"Professor
is working on something." Scott said.

"All
those years were wrong and twisted. Wasted, even." I
said, "They weren't real."

"No,
they weren't." Scott smiled, "This is what's real."

"I am
glad you're awake." Professor said, "It's so good to see you again."

"Glad
to be seen." I smiled.

"Professor,
it's time?" Scott asked.

"Yes,
the mission is set." Professor Xavier said.

"Mission?"
I asked.

"Though
human-mutant relations are coming along nicely, there are people out there who
don't believe in such a cause." Professor said, "The president is calling for
mutant-human peace and we need to protect him."

"I want
to help." I said.

"You're
too weak." Scott said.

"I
don't think I am." I frowned, "I feel fine."

"I
don't think you'll win this, Scott." Professor smiled, "I must tell you that
this is very dangerous. Magneto..."

"Been so long since I heard this." I said.

"Yes,
in your world there are many other
dangers." Professor Xavier said, "He and his brotherhood are still priority."

"Are
you sure..."

"I'm
okay." I frowned.

"Perhaps
you would like to go to your room while Scott and I discuss tactics." Professor
smiled.

I
nodded. I got off the slab, with Scott's help, and walked around the mansion. I
looked at the faces I'd missed, that I hadn't seen in so long. Butterflies
filled my stomach as I passed the familiar places. They were intoxicating and
proverbial. I made my way to my room, my old room. I stood outside for a
second, unsure if this was real. It was a lot more peasible
than the other world. I didn't know if I was awake or if I was sleep. It was
hard to tell. These things I wanted to be true but this dream of my twisted
mind. How could a dream be such a nightmare? It's not clear anymore. How could
it be? All these shades of what used to be clouded my already cloudy mind. I
turned the door knob and walked into the familiar room. It was just as I left
it before I had left the mansion. I couldn't decide if this appariation
was true. The room smelled how I remembered. It looked how I remembered. It
felt...new. I left the door opene and walked over to
the window, looking down at the kids playing on the lawn. It felt like forever
since I'd seen this. Experienced it. It was a welcomed
sight.

"Like it was yesterday. You never forget the first time you died." I said,
turning back to the window, "Or the second. Or the third."

"Reborn, like the Phoenix." Bobby smiled.

"The...no, the Hollow." I frowned.

"You
still believe in those dreams?" Bobby asked, "The Hollow doesn't exist."

"Doesn't
it?" I asked, "You think this is the Phoenix?"

"I
think it's a miracle." Bobby smiled.

"Life
went on without me, in any world." I chuckled, "The world didn't end with me."

Bobby
looked haunted for a second.

"It was
comforting. I'd almost forgotten what death felt like. What living death felt like." I said to myself.

"You
remember things that didn't happen." Bobby said.

"If
they happened in my mind, they happened." I said.

"You
have to let go of that dream world." Bobby said, "You'll never be happy with
that burden on your back."

"I
can't ignore something that meant so much to me for so long." I said.

"In
that world, you were dead for what, two years? And a clone ran around as you.
Everything you loved betrayed you or died." Bobby said, "You can have
everything you lost there back here."

I was
silent as I turned to him. I stared at him.

"I
didn't mean to make you angry." Bobby said, "I just came to see how you were
since you'll be going with us."

"Getting better." I said.

"Us
Omegas gotta stick together." Bobby smiled.

"I just
need some time." I said.

"Sure thing." Bobby smiled heading for the door. He stopped and turned, "Did I
mention I'm very glad you're alive?"

I
nodded.

"See ya." Bobby smiled, leaving.

-

As I
sat on the jet, I waited for the inevitable shock to wake me up to the other
world. I hadn't fallen asleep. This was no longer a dream. It felt more and
more real. The team sat up front but I found myself sitting at the back. I
didn't feel all too social. Scott would look back every now and then from the
cockpit. Bobby also checked on me from time to time. I found myself doubting
either world. Both worlds were absurd. I yearned for a third world where none
of this even existed. No mutants. No X-Men.

"Hey, bub."

Wolverine
stood before me. He was everything I remembered. Short, muscled and feral. Manly.Sexy.

"I came
to make sure you weren't clawing your brains out." Wolverine smiled.

"You
know me." I said quickly, "There's barely brains there."

"Sitting
back here? I get it. I'm not exactly social myself." Wolverine said, sitting
beside me, "Nothing personal to them, but I'm not gabby."

"Hoenstly, one's more shocking." I frowned, "Mutants and
humans...am I supposed to believe this is reality."

"I
think you already do."

"It's a
slow realization." I frowned, "But a fast fall."

"I
missed ya, kid." Wolverine said, "Don't do it again."

I
smiled.

"More plannin." Wolverine said, walking back to
the X-Men.

-

Mutant
peace was just a thought, a hope for those with lofty dreams. It didn't mean
much in the other reality. Today would be a day that united everyone, but I
could definitely see why certain people wouldn't want that. To be thought of as
like everyone else...to be normal when you know you're exceptional...It could feel
like torture. It would be torture. I had never thought of myself as overly
exceptional. I knew that I wasn't like everyone else. No one was normal but I
always felt different but maybe not exceptional. I was starting to like this
reality; being awake. This had to be reality. There was no other option, no
choice. I walked around the rally, sure of nothing. I listened to the president
commend the X-Men and others. Professor Xavier, Scott, The Avengers, and the
Fantastic Four stood by the president. I stopped and smiled up at Scott, who
was smiling down at me.

"He
never doubted that you would come back." Ororo
smiled, standing next to me, "It's a wonder he's still standing. He took it
very hard. It seems people come into his life to leave. You have that in common."

"In the
other world..."

"I'm
Queen of Wakanda. I could never see myself happy
without fighting for what we fight for." Ororo said,
"Though it sounds wonderful."

"You're
happy there." I smiled.

"I'm
happy here." Ororo smiled, "It's a pity that we must fear
that others like us will sever our liberty."

"Magneto." I said, "I trusted him once. His agenda is the only thing he's
loyal to."

"Perhaps
he's just as afraid as we are."

"More."
I said sadly.

"You
guys see anything?" Bobby asked, walking up with Kitty.

"No,
maybe Magneto has come to his senses." Ororo said
optimistically.

"...In
our darkest times, we need to be together. By uniting humans and mutants, we
ensure the survival of both races." The President said with asmile, "The X-Men, Avengers, and
Fantastic Four have been three major super groups in uniting the world. They
have take the time out of their lives to make our
world safer and what kind of world would we be not to do the same?"

Those
last words sparked something within me. The words were so otherworldly. The
sounded so foreign. It sounded like something that could lead to real peace.
Suddenly, a metal sphere ripped the stage apart and the president and all three
teams were thrown! Magneto emerged from the sphere quickly and the microphone
levitated into his hand.

"Perhaps,
Mr. President, it has escaped you that we are not your equals." He said. He
looked over the crowd, "We are not made to save you and your pathetic race.
We..." his gaze stopped at me.

"Magneto." Mystique said walking from behind him. Her gaze went from him to
me, "So, he's alive." She said with little shock.

The
crowd was beyond appauled. Wolverine flew through the
air and crashed by the stage. Sabretooth walked
towards him with a very devious smile on his face. Ororo
flew into action as Pyro threw Bobby to the ground! A
slimeytounge wrapped
around Kitty's foot and tossed her through the air!

"This
will be our liberation. We will witness the death of the homo sapien leader." Magneto said.

Magneto's
sphere turned into three spears (And no, the homophones were not lost on me).
Magneto thrust his hands towards the presidentand the spears exploded towards the
president, who was now standing! Without thinking, I threw my hands forward and
a shield raised in front of him, causing the spears to
turn into sand!

"Holy..."
I trailed.

Magneto
and Mystique looked to me. The crowd dispersed! They began running everywhere
and I was knocked down to the ground!

I awoke
with a start and jumped to my feet. I looked around at the damage. Everything
was broken. I walked further to the edge of the giant cliff and looked over to
see the X-Men fighting the Brotherhood! Magneto stood over Wolverine and
Cyclops. He was ready to make spears run them through when I threw my hand
forward, causing them to stop. Magneto looked up to me and hovered higher to
the cliff.

"It is,
of course, bittersweet to see you again." Magneto said, "There is no way to
save this day. Would you really be satisfied with being normal? To be their weapon of choice?"

"You
mean, like I was your weapon?" I asked.

Magneto
smirked, "Dead hasn't made you any less stubborn." He said.

"You
can't do this. It's a second chance for all of us." I frowned, "This time, we
do it right."

"I
control magnetic fields..."

"...and I
control everything." I said, "Because this was before that device and the power
thingy."

Magneto
looked confused. He landed on the ground in front of me.

"Can
you really do what needs to be done?" Magneto asked, "I didn't think so."

A
helicopter rose up from beneathe the cliff and
Magneto floated up and into the helicopter. I couldn't let him get away. Beast
pulled up with the mini jet andI hopped aboard. I ran to the cockpit.

"They're
not getting away today." Beast smirked, "Hold on."

I
grabbed the seat as we sped off behind the helicopter.

"I'll
get us as close as I can." Beast said,manuevering.

"Get us
on top." I said.

"On top?" Beast asked staring at me.

I
smiled.

"On top
it is." Beast chuckled.

As the
jet moved on top of the helicopter, the hatch opened and I peered out of it. I
pushed my hand forward, causing the blades of the helicopter to stop! I dove
out and onto the the dock of the helicopter! I pulled
myself up. Inside the helicopter, Mystique sat in the cockpit while Magneto
rested.

"I
could kill us all." Magneto said, "I could let this helicopter fall to the
ground."

"I
don't think you would." I said.

"You'd
be surprised at what I would do."

"Actually...I
wouldn't." I frowned, "I'm going to do what I didn't do. I'm going to save this
world from you."

"Something
is jamming the frequency." Mystique said.

I
smirked.

"You
can't be..."

"You'd
be surprised at what I can do." I smiled.

Magneto
threw his hand at me and a knife stopped inches from my face! I nodded and it
flew to the cockpit and impaled Mystique, who slumped over!Suddenly, the clips from every grenades were taken off.

"It
ends here with us." Magneto said.

As
explosions went off, I dove out of the plane, narrowly avoiding most of the
explosion! I was spiraling, in and out of consciousness!

Professor
Xavier <I know now that unless you choose one reality, you'll forever be
torn between them!>

"How do
I choose?" I asked.

Professor
Xavier <You must end one reality, sever your ties.>

"Kill
them?" I asked.

Everything
was silent. Everything...was silent. I sprang up from my bed and headed to the
weapons locker. I grabbed the first dagger and headed towards the gang.

"What
if the mutant isn't a mutant." Melissa asked, "What if
this guy is a mage."

"Mage?"Raiden asked.

"She's
right." Jace said, "That would make more sense."

"So,
what's the rube?" Connor asked, "What are they trying to do?"

"He...felt
confusion." Jace said, "He was torn."

"Between what?" Scott asked.

"This world and another."Jace said, pausing,
"Looks like he chose."

"What?"
Melissa asked.

Jace
dove on Melissa just before a dagger stuck into the wall where she once stood. Raiden and Connor were taken off their feet by an
explosion! Scott readied his visor but was unprepared for what came next. I
stepped into view. I waved my hand at the dagger and it flew back into my hand.

"What
are you doing?" Scott asked.

"Choosing." I said darkly. I waved my hand and Scott flew through a glass
pane!

"The
world, they made another and convinced him..." Jace
stopped when I sliced at his chest!

"This
isn't real." I frowned, "I have to get back to the real world."

"This
is the real world!" Melissa shouted, "You're psycho, ya
know!"

"This
isn't how it's supposed to be." I frowned, "Nothing is right."

"That's
what's real about it, you jerk! The real world is not perfect." Melissa said.

"You
woke up years ago!" Jace said, "That world is what
you want to live in..."

"Save
the speech." I frowned.

"He's
already heard it." Jace said.

"Stay outta my mind!" I frowned.

"Underneath,
you know this world is real." Jace said, "You don't
want to live in this world...but you have to."

"Why?"
I asked.

"We
need you." Jace said.

I
stopped.

"We
love you." Scott said, limping towards me.

I
dropped the dagger and kicked it to him, "You shouldn't." I said quickly.

"This
is all mystical backlash. No one blames you." Jace said.

"I need
to sleep." I said, passing out.

-

"You're
awake." Professor Xavier smiled.

I
smiled too. There was a sudden hint of everything I needed.

"You've
made your choice." Professor smiled.

"I
can't stay here...this isn't real."

"To whom?" Professor asked.

"This
world is...so much better than the other one." I said, "But I don't deserve this
world."

There
was silence.

"I
missed this. The innocent time.When
everything was new.When I was new." I smiled
with tears,"I thought this would be a second chance
to do everything right. I wished it. I've been wishing it for years, ever since
I woke up. I wished so many things...I wish I'd never died...but I did. I did and I
knew then that there was no turning back."

Professor
listened in silence.

"This
isn't that point." I said, "Everything I dreamed is this, but sometimes you
have to choose everything you don't want. I'm so sorry." I said, slumping over.

-

"For
what it's worth," Scott said as I walked up behind him, "I'm proud of you. You
chose us."

"I
chose me." I said, "I chose to move forward."

Scott
watched me.

"All
the X-Men stuff will be between you and Connor. You won't show up again. You
won't communicate with me again..." I said, "I don't want to be in the same room
with you."

"But..."

"It's
too much." I said, "You do this to me. I have my life semi-working and you come
back and I'm nothing. I can't be around you anymore."

"That
would hurt more."

"It
can't. I didn't choose you."

"You
never choose me." Scott said.

"You're
married." I said, "I'm in a relationship."

"You
need me. You're in danger."

"I'm
always in danger." I frowned, "I can't be in the same room with you anymore.
You're what I gave up."

Scott
nodded.

"Don't
take it personal..."

"How
could I?" He said, angrily leaving.

I
closed my eyes and prayed for strength. Nothing about any of this was right but
I know that this isn't just science anymore...it's mystical too.

-

"Is
it...permanent?" Scott asked.

"He
chose, Scott." Professor said, "It is a pity for the world to lose one so
soon."

"He's
awake. He blinks."

"But he
is still in a coma-like state." Professor explained.

"He'll
never come back?"

"I'm
not saying that. It will be up to him." Professor said grimly, "He chose the
other reality. A choice that wasn't
easy."

"We'll
never know that reality, will we?" Scott asked.

"No,
Scott, we won't." Professor said, looking over to Pane, who was in a straight
jacket and looking off into the distance.